Students and researchers at University of Regina to share historic Budget 2018 funding for science

News release

Canada’s research community to benefit from largest investment in discovery science in Canadian history

October 10, 2018 – Regina, Saskatchewan

Science is about discovery. When researchers are given the tools to push the boundaries of knowledge, great things happen. These discoveries lead to the innovations that will grow the economy and help ensure Canada has a workforce capable of taking on the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, highlighted over $4 million in support for discovery research at the University of Regina. This investment is part of the more than $558 million in funding for researchers and students at institutions across Canada that was announced by Minister Duncan on October 9.

This $558-million investment in research—the largest one this year from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)—includes $70 million in new funding announced in Budget 2018. With this investment, the Government of Canada is delivering on Budget 2018’s historic commitment to science. The investment is also part of the Government of Canada’s plan to attract global talent and promote diversity, and it will provide nearly 4,300 researchers and students with the means to pursue world-leading discovery work.

This year, as part of the $558-million investment, the NSERC Discovery Grants program is providing more than $5 million in supplements for early-career researchers, ensuring the next generation of scientists, engineers and researchers will have the tools they need to flourish.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement is a clear illustration of why we made science a priority in Budget 2018. The investments we are making today in the University of Regina will give researchers and students the foundation they need to explore the new avenues of discovery that will benefit all of us and cement Canada as a world leader in fundamental science and engineering.”

– The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

“Canada supports science and our talented researchers. Today, we are delivering on our historic investment in research and in the next generation of scientists. These remarkable researchers and students we are celebrating are working to make the world a better place and to secure a brighter future for all Canadians.”

– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Scienceand Sport

“The funding commitment outlined in Budget 2018 will provide a very significant increase to the Discovery Program to support science and engineering researchers. Additionally, this investment will contribute critical supplementary funding to launch early-career researchers and to support equity, diversity and inclusion.”

– Dr. Pierre Charest, Vice-President, Research Grants and Scholarships Directorate, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Quick facts

The $558-million research investment announced by Minister Duncan on October 9 includes $70 million in new funding from Budget 2018. The grants go toward NSERC discovery programs, graduate and postgraduate scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships, and research tools and instruments.

About NSERC

NSERC invests over $1.2 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. Our investments deliver discoveries—valuable world-firsts in knowledge claimed by a brain trust of over 11,000 professors. Our investments enable partnerships and collaborations that connect industry with discoveries and the people behind them. Researcher-industry partnerships supported by NSERC help inform research and development and solve scale-up challenges.

NSERC also provides scholarships and hands-on training experience for more than 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows. These young researchers will be the next generation of science and engineering leaders in Canada.